Bookrest or the like



y 7, W68 J. c. WHITE BOOKREST OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 9, 1966 INVENTOR. JOHN c. WHITE BY Mar/0 Hut;

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 7, H68

lice

3,381,928 BGQKREST OR THE LIKE lehn {3. White, George R. White, 944) Maple Ave, ollingswood,N..l. 03198 Filed Sept. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 578,292 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-455) ABSTRACT (IF THE DISCLGSURE This invention relates generally to article-supporting devices, and is especially concerned with a uniquely improved support or rest for books, and the like.

Background of the invention While it is appreciated that there have, in the past, been proposed various constructions of boolrrests, such devices have been unsatisfactory for many reasons, including complexity of construction, inconvenience in use, space requirements in storage, and others.

Summary It is one object of the present invention to provide a boolrrest or the like of the type described wherein a generally fiat base is provided along one edge with an upstanding retainer, a support is hingedly connected to the base rearward of the retainer and a swingable strut is interposed between the support and base for movement between an operative position extending in angular relation with respect to the support and base, and a collapsed position parallel to and sandwiched between the support and base.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a rest or support for books, and the like, which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, is extremely simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, which is extremely easy to use, capable of being collapsed for occupying a minimum of space in storage, and instantaneously set up at a I selected adjustment for operation and use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bookrest, or like device, which is neat and attractive in appearance, and capable of economic manufacture for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a bookrcst constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, in its operative condition of use;

FIGURE 2 is a side elcvational view showing the bookrest of FIGURE 1 in a collapsed condition for storage;

FIGURE 3 is a rear perspective view illustrating the instant bookrest in an erected, operative condition;

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a partial end elevational view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view illustrating a bookrest of the present invention in its operative condition, and showing alternate positions of adjustment in phantom.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 13 thereof, a bookrest of the present invention is there generally designated 10, and may include a generally fiat base 11 having a retainer 12 upstanding along the forward edge of the base. A generally fiat support member or plate 13 has one edge, its forward edge, hingedly connected, as by hinge means 14 to the base 11, just rearward of the retainer 12, to connect the support member 13 for swinging movement, as between the positions of FIGURES 2 and 3.

In addition, on the rear or underside of support member 13 is provided a strut I5 hingedly connected, as by hinge means 16, to the support member 13 for swinging movement, as between the depending operative position of FIGURE 3, and the generally horizontal position of FIGURE 2 underlying the support member 13.

More particularly, the base 11 may be a generally flat, substantially rectangular sheet or plate of any suitable material having parallel longitudinal front and rear edges and 21, and parallel side edges 22. Extending along the front edge 29, substantially coextensive therewith, is the retainer 12, which may be an elongate molding having a front surface 23 substantially flush with the forward base edge 20, and having an undersurface 24 overlying the upper surface of the base along the front margin thereof. The upper surface or" the retainer 12 includes a longitudinal portion 25 declining rearwardly from the upper extremity of the front surface 23 and terminating in a generally horizontal portion 26 which extends rearwardly to the rear edge 27 of the retainer strip 12. Thus, the oblique surface portion 25 faces rearwardly and upwardly and combines with the front surface 23 to define therebetween a longitudinally extending, upstanding lip 28.

The support member 13 may be of generally fiat, substantially rectangular configuration, including longitudinally extending forward and rearward edges 30 and 3i, and generally parallel side edges 32. The forward longitudinal edge 3% of support member 13 extends longitudinally along, just rearward of the retainer 12, being substantially coextensive therewith, so that the side edges 32 are substantially flush with respective side edges 22 of the base, and the rear edge 31 is substantially flush with the rear base edge 21, when the support member is in its collapsed position overlying the base, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 5.

The hinge means 14 includes an elongate flexible hinge sheet 34, having one longitudinal portion extending along and secured in sandwiched relation between the undersurface 2d of retainer 12, and the upper surface of base 11, along edge 26. Spaced from the longitudinal sheet portion 35 of hinge sheet 34 is an Opposite longitudinal sheet portion 36 secured in facing engagement with the upper surface of support member 13 along the forward edge 39 of the support member. The sheet portion 36 may be secured by any suitable means, such as adhesive, or other, if desired. Similarly, the sheet portion 35 may be adhesively or otherwise secured between the retainer 12 and base 11. The hinge-sheet portions 35 and 36 are spaced by a longitudinally extending intermediate hinge-sheet portion 37, which extends upward along the rear edge 27 of retainer 12, and continues upward along the front edge 3i) of support member 13. In addition, a

longitudinally extending spacer member or strip 39 may be suitably secured on the upper surface of base 11, extending along and rearward of the intermediate hingesheet portion 37. By this means, the support member 13 is spaced over the base 11 at the forward edge region of the support member.

The strut 15 may consist of a generally rectangular, substantially fiat member or plate, of dimensions considerahly smaller than the support member 13, having upper and lower, generally parallel edges and 41, and generally parallel side edges 42. The hinge means 16 connects the upper edge 40 of strut 15 to a generally central region of the support member 13, on the underside thereof. In particular, the hinge means 16 includes a flexible hinge sheet 43 having a longitudinal portion 44 extending along the upper strut edge 40 and adhesively, or otherwise, secured in facing engagement with the upper or rear face of the strut adjacent to the upper strut edge. The hinge sheet 3 extends forwardly beyond the strut 15, including a hinge-sheet portion .5 secured in facing engagement with the underor rear face of the support member 13. The strut hinge-sheet portion 45 may be secured to the support member 13, as by a stop strip 46, anchoring the hinge-sheet portion 45 in sandwiched relation between the underside of the support member and the stop strip. In this manner, the strut 15 is connected by the hinge 16 for free swinging movement about a hinge axis extending generally longitudinally of the upper strut edge 40; and further, downward-and-forward swinging movement of the strut is limited by abutting engagement of the latter with the stop member 46, as seen in FIGURES 3 and 6. The strut 15 is thus mounted by the hinge 16 for free swinging movement between its forwardmost position in abutting engagement with the stop member 46, and a rearward, collapsed position in facing engagement with the underside of the support member, as seen in FIGURE 2.

Further, a plurality of abutment members or bosses 47, 48 and 49 upstand fixedly from the upper surface of base 11 at spaced locations rearward of the spacer 39. The abutment members 4749 may each assume the configuration of a longitudinal strip extending in parallelism with each other and with the front and rear base edges 20 and 21, at difierently spaced locations rearward of the spacer 39. In use, the lower edge 4-1 of the strut 15 may be selectively engaged against a respective abutment boss 47-49 to positively locate the support member 13 in a selected angle of upstanding inclination, as seen in phantom in FIGURE 6. The forwardmost or greatest angle of inclination employs the strut 15 depending generally vertically downward for effective frictional bearing engagement with the base .11, without the need for an abutment boss.

Of course, in use, the support member 13 is located in a desired angle of inclination, and a book, or the like, as at 50 is rested on the forward surface of the sup port member, with the lower edge of the book supported by engagement with the inclined surface portion 25 of retainer 12.

In the collapsed condition of FIGURE 2, it will appear that the support member 13 is disposed in overlying relation with respect to the base 11, being substantially parallel thereto, and spaced therefrom as by the spacer 39 in the forward region, and the bosses 47- 19 at rearwardly extending strut 15, in the rearward region.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a support or rest for books, and the like, which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bookrest, or the like, comprising a base adapted to rest on a supporting surface, an upstanding retainer extending along the forward edge of said base, a support member overlying said base and having one edge adjacent to and rearward of said retainer, support hinge means connecting said support member adjacent to said one edge to said base for swinging movement of said support member between a storage position generally parallel to said base and an operative position upstanding obliquely from said base, a strut interposed between said support member and base, strut hinge means connecting the strut to said support for swinging movement of said strut between a storage position underlying said support when the latter is in its storage position and an operative position depending to abutting engagement with said base to maintain said support in a selected upstanding position, said support hinge means comprising a hinge sheet of flexible material having spaced portions secured to said base adjacent to said retainer and secured to said support adjacent to said one edge thereof, and a spacer interposed between said base and support member adjacent to said one edge of the latter to mount said support member in spaced overlying relation in its storage condition, said spacer being secured to said base overlying one portion of said hinge sheet to anchor the latter to said base.

2. A book rest, or the like, comprising a base adapted to rest on a supporting surface, an upstanding retainer extending along the forward edge of said base, a support member overlying said base and having one edge adjacent to and rearward of said retainer, support hinge means connecting said support member adjacent to said one edge to said base for swinging movement of said support member between a storage position generally parallel to said base and an operative position upstanding obliquely from said base, a strut interposed between said support member and base, strut hinge means connecting the strut to said support for swinging movement of said strut between a storage position underlying said support when the latter is in its storage position and an operative position depending to abutting engagement with said base to maintain said support in a selected upstanding position, a plurality of spaced abutment bosses upstanding from said base at different distances from said support hinge means, said strut being selectively engageable with a respective boss to maintain said support member in a selected upstanding position of its swinging movement, said strut hinge means comprising a hinge sheet of flexible sheet material having spaced portions secured to said support member and strut to mount the latter for swinging movement into and out of a storage position extending rearward-1y from said hinge sheet in facing engagement with said support member and resting on said bosses, and a stop member anchoring said strut hinge sheet to said support member and of a dimension to limit swinging movement of said strut toward said one supportmember edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 615,130 11/1898 Beckman 108-9 X 706,930 8/1902 Grimshaw 108-9 2,165,255 7/ 1939 Hamilton 248-455 2,252,571 7/1941 Kohn 248-459 2,560,679 7/1951 Zalkind 108-9 X 2,826,857 3/1958 Saunders 248-456 3,305,206 2/1967 Nichols 248-459 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary'Examiner. 

